senators now understand that they are operating on a different political terrain and just as mitch mcconnell brokered a deal finally to resolve that hammer against your head torture that republicans were suffering along with the country during the fiscal cliff deal in 2011, that same thing is going to happen if we go over the cliff. republicans don't want to sustain anymore damage to their brand. they've been under water in our nbc/wall street journal poll six straight years and pay a price for that. >> john harwood, thank you for your reporting from washington. >>> after the break, there have been dozens of gun-related deaths since the sandy hook massacre and the nra is still doubling down on its plan to add more guns to schools. >> if it's crazy to call for putting police and armed security in our school to protect our children, then call me crazy. >> that's the wrong debate to have if you want to talk about protecting our children. >> well, this time the nra's remarks could actually be a good thing for more gun regulation. we'll explain why next on "now." [ male announcer ] it's that time